Like a Rock
Brooklyn native won’t trade in Knicks for Nets
Comedian and Brooklyn native Chris Rock was a recent guest on the “The Bottom Line Sports Show” on SiriusXM, hosted by Gerald Brown, Howie C. and former Knicks power forward Charles Oakley.
Rock, who is a longtime Knicks fan, was asked if the Nets move to Brooklyn might inspire him to shift his NBA allegiances.
“Nah,” Rock said. “I like that there’s a really good team in Brooklyn. Hearing people scream ‘Brooklyn, Brooklyn,’ I think, is good for everybody but, hey man, I’m Knicks.
“I put waaaay too much time into this.”
“I like them both,” he went on. “I’m just saying I’m a Knicks fan more. Hey, I like Biggie and Tupac, ok? I like Jay Leno and Letterman. But if the Knicks have a game and the Nets have a game I’m going to be at the Garden.”
Rock also weighed in on the controversy and subsequent fine after Spurs coach Gregg Popovich decided to send his star players home to rest rather than suit them up for San Antonio’s game against the Heat.
“As an entertainer, put it that way, I understand what Pop did,” said Rock. “But as a fan, hey man, that’s the only time they come in. This is not baseball where you have these home stands. These teams come in once a year sometimes. The Lakers come to New York once a year so if you sit Kobe I’m pissed. Hey, man, I remember one year I flew from L.A. to Chicago on Christmas Day to see the Bulls play the Celtics because I had realized just because of my schedule I had never seen Bird, McHale and Parish play. Hey, they got stomped, they were a shell of their former selves but I got to see them play. I’m glad.”
Choir sings Goodell’s praises
When the American Football Coaches Foundation honored Roger Goodell with its CEO Coach of the Year Award last week at the Waldorf, the NFL Players Choir saluted the commish with a soulful selection of songs.
After opening with the national anthem, the choir, wearing blue gospel robes with NFL logos on their lapels, did a rousing rendition of the Staples Singers’ hit “I’ll Take You There.’’
“You can really belt it out,’’ Goodell told Henry Lawrence, the former Raiders offensive tackle who is one of the 12 NFL veterans who debuted in 2008 under the direction of Grammy-winner Myron Butler and Troy Vincent, the NFL’s VP of Player Engagement.
Other notable choir members include Selvish Capers (Giants), former Jet Olrick Johnson, Dexter Clinksdale (Cowboys), J.D. Hill (Bills, Lions), Drew Pearson (Cowboys),and Darrell Green (Redskins).
The choir’s next performance will be Feb. 1 at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans during Super Bowl weekend.
L.I. native’s grapplers to MSG
Ohio State wrestling coach and Long Island native Tom Ryan paused when asked what he hopes fans at today’s Grapple in the Garden learn about the sport. Then he spoke in thought words tinged with emotion.
“Wrestling is like a fraternity, like the Marines,’’ Ryan said. “When you meet a fellow wrestler, there’s an immediate respect and understanding. You know that person has been knocked down and gotten back up, multiple times. You know that person had paid a price for something he believes in. I hope people see that.’’
Ryan built Hofstra from a doormat to a national power before taking the Ohio State job in 2006. By 2009 he won national coach of the year honors and his Buckeyes went 18-2.
But Ryan has known greater challengers. On Feb. 16, 2004, his son, Teague, a seemingly healthy 5-year-old, died of a heart attack at the family dinner table. One second he was playing hide-and-seek with his mother, Lynette, the next second Tom was performing CPR.
Doctors at the Mayo Clinic believe Teague suffered from Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart. It was then that Ryan learned the size of the hearts that beat in the wrestling community.
“My wife and I didn’t have to cook a meal for 30 days, at least,’’ Ryan said. “People just stepped up and kept bringing us whatever we needed. We never had to ask.’’
The Buckeyes were 3-0 going into Friday night’s match at Kent State before heading to the Garden. Perennial powers No. 1-ranked Oklahoma State, Cornell and Iowa, where Ryan wrestled as a collegiate, will be in the Garden along with Hofstra and Rutgers for this unprecedented event.
Hank’s Yanks helping out
Members of Hank’s Yanks — the Long Island-based youth baseball team funded by Yankees general partner Hank Steinbrenner — joined Music Power NY founder Greg Jagenburg at Island Harvest’s headquarters this past week to turn over a check for $10,000 raised for the victims of Superstorm Sandy. The young players also visited Angela’s House on Long Island, where they sang Christmas carols to the kids.
“I am very proud that whenever there is a cause, the Hank’s Yanks kids are always there to lend a hand,” Steinbrenner said in a statement.
LJ re-enacts his four-point play
MSG Network debuts a new mini-series “The Garden Transformed: Year 2” on Monday with five episodes taking an offbeat look at the renovation that has made James Dolan so proud.
In the first episode, ex-Knick Larry Johnson and rehabbing guard Iman Shumpert get a tour of the contruction.
Johnson re-enacts his famous four-point play for one of the construction workers, who was in the arena for the epic game in 1999. Wearing a yellow construction vest and hardhat, Johnson re-enacts the play on the bare cement floor, making his best guess on the location of the shot.